Plastic utensil handle



Feb. 26, 1957 BAER 2,782,454

PLASTIC UTENSIL. HANDLE Filed Feb. 9, 1956 TJ-j- INVENTOR.

200/ L BAf/Q PLASTIC UTENSIL HANDLE Rudi L. Baer, Roslyn Heights, N. Y. 7

Application February 9, 1956, Serial No. 564,390

2 Claims. (Cl. 16-116) The present invention relates to a novel handle for tools and utensils. More particularly, it relates to a novel nited States Patent "cc handle composed of a plurality of plastic members held together by the same means which secures the handle to the tool or utensil.

Heretofore, handles for utensils and the like were formed of wood and were secured to the remainder of the tool or utensil by being drilled longitudinally, a bolt extending through the drill hole to the utensil. With the advent of plastics, these synthetics replaced wood but the handles were still essentially of the same construction. Either the handle was molded with a small longitudinal bore or it was molded solid and then drilled. Since the handle at the end which is grasped must be of considerable bulk, it is apparent that the handles required a considerable amount of material in spite of the fact that all that was necessary was a wide periphery for the hand and a support for the securing bolt.

Moreover, since old type handles were of one-piece construction, color decorative effects could be achieved only by an after-treatment of the completed handle. For example, if a multi-colored handle was desired, the plastic was first molded with suitable pigmentation to provide a one-piece structure of a given color and the second color was provided by subsequent painting of a portion of the handle. Owing to the treatment to which such handles are subjected, the color coating would chip or wear away, making the handle look old, though functionally it may be still quite sound.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a plastic handle including a plurality of dilferently colored areas, the colors being durable and resistant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plastic handle which, though light in weight, is sturdy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hollow plastic handle requiring a minimum amount of plastic material without sacrificing strength or durability.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hollow plastic handle composed of a plurality of parts which may be manufactured, assembled, and securely held together simply and inexpensively.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the assembled handle attached to a utensil;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the handle alone taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the handle with the tubular member shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a view of the handle as seen from the right hand side of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, in Fig. 3 there is shown a hollow tubular member 11 ter- Patented Feb. 26, 1957 minating at one end in a wide mouth 12 and at the other end in a narrow mouth 13. While the tubular member 11 for the most part has a thickness A, it may be fluted along its outer surface for better gripping action and to save material so that portions of tubular member 11 may have a thickness B. The reduced end of hollow member 11 is preferably provided with a slight marginal rim 14, concentrically positioned about narrow mouth 13. A cap member 15 includes a base portion 16, corresponding in periphery to the external base portion of hollow member 11. The cap member 15 is further provided with a projecting neck portion 17 integral with base portion 16 and corresponding in contour with the interior of hollow member 11. A square or other polygonal aperture 18 is provided centrall in cap member 15 and is aligned with narrow mouth 13' of hollow member 11. A bolt 19 is provided with threads 20 at one end and with an enlarged head 21 at the other end, the overall length of bolt 19 being somewhat greater than that of hollow member 11. Adjacent enlarged head 21, the bolt 19 is provided with a square or other polygonal portion 22, corresponding in cross-section to aperture 18. A nut 23 is provided for engagement with threaded end 20.

In assembly, the neck portion 17 of cap member 15 is entered into wide mouth 12 so that the lower end of hollow tubular member 11 rests on base 16 of cap member 15. Bolt 19 is inserted through aperture 18, projecting through narrow mouth 13 of member 11, the bolt being turned until portion 22 becomes aligned with aperture 18, and enters thereinto. Nut 23 is threaded on the end of bolt 19 until it comes to rest against the top of member 11. Preferably the size of the nut is so chosen that its longitudinal movement will be limited by rim 14 so that even if tightened considerably, it will merely dig into the rim rather than damage the narrow end of member 11. A portion of threaded end 20 of bolt 19 will project beyond the nut 23, as seen in Fig. 2, and this projecting portion may be used to unite the handle to a utensil such as a scoop 24, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In practice, the hollow tubular member 11 and the cap member 15 are separately molded of plastic material, conventional equipment being suitable for this purpose and requiring only the appropriately shaped molds. The plastic material for each component can be homogeneously pigmented or otherwise colored in conventional manner, and by forming each of a differently colored material, the assembled handle shown in Fig. 1 will be multicolored. Each differently colored portion being homogeneously colored in this manner, regardless of minor surface wear the decorative color combination will be maintained throughout the life of the handle. In contrast therewith, surface ornamentation and coloring of a one-piece handle will rapidly wear off or chip away.

In addition to this improved ensemble, it can be seen that the handle will require a minimum amount of plastic material in its formation as compared with a solid handle. A preferred plastic material comprises polystyrene which can be pigmented and molded easily to form resistant structures. It has been found that the thickness of hollow member 11 may be as small as of an inch and the handle will still be sufficiently rugged to withstand considerable pressure. Preferably, however, the handle is at least one eighth of an inch in thickness. While greater thicknesses may be utilized, it has been found that at of an inch the handle is so strong that little advantage is gained by further increases.

As a further advantage, the hollow handle provides a large air space between a users hand and the central bolt 19. Since this bolt will be made of metal, it will rapidly be brought to the temperature of the scoop or other tool 24, Whether very hot or very cold. The temperature will not be transmitted to the user, however, because of the insulating character of the handle and especially of the air space.

The external configuration of the members 11 and 15 and the cross-section of portion 17 and aperture 18 may be varied as desired. Preferably, however, the diameter of the narrow mouth 13 is made only slightly larger than the diameter of the threaded end 20 of bolt 19 so that there will be little opportunity for the bolt to move about. This movement will be completely eliminated upon proper positioning of the nut 23.

It has been found that a handle formed as described hereinabove gives satisfactory durable service and will withstand high impact, and also such temperatures as are encountered in home and commercial washing apparatuses.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

l. A handle for utensils and the like comprising a tubular member of substantially uniform thickness having an enlarged body portion and a reduced body portion extending therefrom, the end of each portion having an opening of a different diameter, the opening at the end of the reduced portion being of a diameter just suflicient to receive a fastening member, a separable cap member for the opening of the enlarged body portion, said cap member being substantially coextensive in diameter with the diameter of said enlarged body portion and having a reduced neck portion of a diameter substantially coextensive with the internal diameter of the opening of said enlarged body portion so as to fit snugly therein, said cap member having a central aperture therein coaxial with the axis of said tubular member, and a fastening member extending through said cap and tubular member, said cap and tubular member being of molded plastic materials.

2. A handle as defined in claim 1 in which the aperture of the cap member is polygonal in shape and in which the fastening member comprises a bolt having a head with a polygonal extension conforming to said opening and extending therein to prevent relative rotation between said cap and fastening member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

